Google Maps is a tool that we tend to take for granted.
Looking for a delicious new restaurant? Google Maps shows you the hottest spots near you.
Need a local plumber? Google Maps shows providers with the best customer reviews.
Google Maps offers great benefits for users looking for businesses and businesses looking to attract customers.
That’s why Google Maps packs are prime real estate for businesses looking to increase online and local traffic.
What is the “Google Local Pack”?
In this guide, we’ll cover all of it, the most important features, and how you can use it to turn leads into your business.
What is Google Maps Pack?
A “Google Maps Pack” (or Google Local Maps Pack) showcases top-ranking local listings for your location or search location in a prominent section of Google Local Search results.
In the Google Maps Pack, businesses are listed with their geographic location, contact information, hours of operation, and other useful information.
Users can click a listing to see company details, call a contact number, or pull Google Maps navigation to the physical location of the business.
Google screenshot, September 2022Usage
A Google Maps pack appears as a set of three or more Google Maps results when a user searches for a local business. Google calls out search results that its algorithms interpret as most relevant to your search.
These Google Maps results are usually displayed above traditional organic search results. This is because the algorithm understands that a user’s search intent is to find a physical location.
Google Maps packs make it easy for users to find the specific business they’re looking for, or browse businesses in a specific category (restaurants, retailers, etc.).
Map packs provide business contact information, addresses, website links, opening hours, prices, photos, customer reviews, and more.
Local map pack stats you should know
Nearly a third of all mobile searches are location-specific, and Google is the top search engine users use to find local businesses.
In fact, 99% of consumers surveyed by Brightlocal used the internet to find local businesses in the last year.
With that in mind, Google Maps Pack optimization is one of the best local SEO strategies businesses can use to drive local traffic.
This starts with creating your online listings and website, then optimizing the search terms your target audience uses to find businesses like yours.
As mentioned above, the Google Maps Pack also has the advantage of displaying customer reviews.
And 94% of consumers said positive reviews are more likely to use a business, a feature businesses should consider.
Want to know why the Google Maps Pack is important for SEO? Read and find out the local SEO stats in the Search Engine Journal.
Why the Google Maps Pack is Important for SEO
Google Maps packs occupy a prominent place in Google local search results. This is an important placement for businesses as the #1 spot gets the highest click-through rate of all listings.
To rank well in map packs, businesses often need to adopt a local SEO strategy.
Map packs are important for SEO. If properly optimized, it can be a significant driver of organic traffic.
Optimizing for the Google Maps Pack provides many benefits, including:
- more organic traffic – Higher Google Maps pack positions often lead to higher click-through rates and more traffic to your business’s website.
- Increased local traffic – Being ranked high in a map pack means that your business is one of the first lists that appear when users search for your business. That means the user is more likely to navigate to your physical location through her Google Maps.
- more phones – Reaching the top of the Google Maps pack can attract more users and encourage them to call your business directly. This can lead to more leads for your business.
- competitive advantage – Ranking higher than your competitors in your map pack will lead to more customers leading to more customer reviews and overall visibility of your business.In a competitive market this can make a big difference There is a nature.
- Increase in mobile traffic – Map packs take up most of the visual space on a mobile phone screen, so users are more likely to respond more quickly and view lists while on the go.
- Enterprise SEO – Users often skip businesses that do not meet certain location parameters. This can be a big problem for large companies. A region-specific list of physical locations can be a significant factor in corporate traffic.
Google Maps Pack fields and features
Google Maps offers a variety of features for businesses and consumers. Most of them help to provide a better user experience.
Our goal with Google Maps is to make it easy for people to find and interact with the businesses they’re looking for through local search.
As a marketer or business owner, there are some important Google Maps Pack features you should be aware of.
- trade name – Name of the business; clicking on the hyperlinked name of the business takes the user to the full listing on the Google Business Profile.
- evaluation – Number and quality of reviews; usually displayed as both numbers (out of 5) and stars
- price – Estimated cost of services or products for the business. It usually appears as a series of dollar signs (such as $$$).
- address – Business physical address
- open/closed – Indicates if the business is currently open based on business hours
- time – Hours of operation or business hours. Include day and time (open to closed)
- Explanation – A brief description of your business (e.g. “Seasonal Italian food and wine pairings”)
- service options – Specify whether your business offers store pickup, online ordering, in-store dining, delivery, etc.
- tag – Ability to specify the type of business (e.g. “Italian” or “Menswear Store”)
A complete list of Google Business Profiles includes website links, phone numbers, photos, popular times, driving directions, customer reviews, and much more.
Additionally, users can post to Google Maps to update the listing or add additional information.
How do I rank in the Google Maps Pack?
There is more than one sure way to rank in Google Maps Pack.
Rather, ranking in map packs requires a combination of local SEO strategies to improve local rankings.
The basis for ranking on Google Maps is:
Create a Google Business Profile listing
The first step is to create or claim your Google Business Profile listing.
This may involve searching for and “claiming” an existing business listing, or creating an entirely new listing for your business.
Google Business Profile is a free platform where you can showcase your business information and essentially rank it with map packs.
However, your ranking depends on how optimized your listing is, how many positive customer reviews you have, how well your website is optimized, and a number of other factors.
Once you’ve created or claimed your listing, you can start optimizing Google Maps by following local SEO best practices.
Optimize your listing and get reviews
To optimize your list, you should fill in as much business information (accurately) as possible.
This means adding your address, phone number, hours of operation, website link, business description, tags, photos, and all the “features” mentioned above.
Additionally, there are several features that are important ranking factors for your business, such as the number and quality of reviews and keyword usage.
Google itself provides many resources to help you complete your listing.
For more tips on optimizing your GBP, follow our Google Business Profile SEO guide.
Embed Google Maps on your website
Once you’ve created your Google Maps listing, you can embed the map into your website’s contact page (or similar page).
A map for your business makes it easier for users to find and navigate your physical location.
Also, optimizing your website for local SEO can help you rank in local organic search results.
Local SEO can help improve local map pack listings and organic rankings. This gives users multiple opportunities to find your business before your competitors.
Optimize your Google Local Pack for more traffic
Google Maps packs help users find relevant businesses and easily find contact information for their favorite local excursions.
As a business owner, optimizing your Google Maps pack is one of the key ways to increase your local and online traffic.
Local SEO is the primary method used to optimize map packs, but there are different strategies involved.
The first is optimizing your Google Business Profile. This is the primary method of posting your listing.
Use other strategies to optimize your listing for your keywords, get more reviews, and ultimately rank higher than your local competitors.
Want to climb the ranks with map packs?
Check out the latest local SEO strategies and tips.
Other resources:
Featured Image: BestForBest/Shutterstock
